Afamelanotide
Reviewed
Short answer
An approved implant that increases pain-free light exposure in adults with EPP. It is not a general tanning or cosmetic peptide. An FDA-approved implant exists for a rare-disease indication.
The Peptide Field explains research. Its pages are not independently medically reviewed, and they do not diagnose, prescribe, or recommend treatment.
Read the study findingsAlso known as Scenesse · Nle4-D-Phe7-alpha-MSH · melanocortin-1 agonist
Part of Melanocortin peptides
Legal status Is Afamelanotide legal? See the status table
Study and product details
What it is
Afamelanotide is the active ingredient in the approved Scenesse implant. It is a changed version of a pigment-related body signal and acts mainly at the melanocortin-1 receptor.
Type of peptide: Melanocortin-1 receptor agonist. This describes what the substance is or how it works. It does not show that it is safe, effective, or approved.
What has been studied?
- Strong: Several reliable sources describe this clearly.
Randomized trials support pain-free light-exposure and quality-of-life outcomes in adults with EPP.
The approved implant's pharmacology and melanocortin-1 activity are characterized.
The label and postauthorization monitoring characterize known risks and skin-monitoring requirements.
High for authentic Scenesse; low for transfer to other melanocortin products.
Products with the same ingredient can differ.
The ingredient name does not tell you everything about a product. Check its other ingredients, its form, how it enters the body, and the use and people covered by the research or approval.
Scenesse
2024 label- Ingredients and form
- Controlled-release implant
- How it enters the body
- Implant under the skin, placed by a trained professional
- Use and people covered
- Increase pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria and a history of phototoxic reactions.
- Scenesse
- Increase pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria
What studies found
Randomized trials in erythropoietic protoporphyria, or EPP, reported more pain-free light exposure and improvements in disease-specific quality of life. FDA approved Scenesse for a corresponding adult population.
The approval does not establish general tanning, cosmetic anti-aging, athletic, or other disease benefits. It does not validate different melanocortin peptides.
Which products do these findings apply to?
Scenesse is not the same as every tanning peptide or injection. Scenesse is a healthcare-professional-administered implant. It is not equivalent to tanning peptides, compounded injections, or other melanocortin analogues.
Fact checks
3 statements checked. Read what the results mean.
“Afamelanotide increases pain-free light exposure in adults with EPP.”
The label and randomized trials support this defined rare-disease outcome.
- What this answer is based on
- Health results from a study with randomly assigned groups
- Limits of this answer
- Adults with a history of phototoxic reactions from erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Sources for this fact check (2)
“Scenesse is an approved cosmetic tanning implant.”
Its approval is for pain-free light exposure in adults with EPP, not cosmetic tanning.
- What this answer is based on
- Official record or product label
- Limits of this answer
- The current FDA-approved indication.
Sources for this fact check (1)
“Afamelanotide evidence proves other tanning peptides are safe and effective.”
Different molecules and products require their own identity, quality, safety, and outcome evidence.
- What this answer is based on
- Official record or product label
- Limits of this answer
- Other melanocortin analogues and unapproved products.
Sources for this fact check (1)
Risks and safety limits
The implant is administered by trained healthcare professionals and the label calls for skin monitoring. This guide provides no implant or cosmetic-use instructions.
This editorial review did not determine sport eligibility. Athletes must check the current prohibited list, Global DRO, and their governing body.
Reviewed .Check the rules for athletes ↗Terms used in the studies
- peptide
- a short chain of amino acids
- indication
- the approved or studied use and patient group
- agonist
- a substance that activates a receptor
- randomized
- assigned to study groups by chance
- compounded
- made for one patient by a pharmacy, or in batches by a permitted outsourcing facility; a compounded drug is not FDA-approved
- analog
- a changed version made to act like another substance
- outcome
- what the study measured
- molecule
- one specific chemical substance
Read the sources
Show 3 sources
Review history
Initial brief based on the current Scenesse label, pivotal trials, and orphan-drug record.
Not independently medically reviewed. This page is not a dosing, sourcing, or treatment guide.
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